Triethylaluminium

Triethylaluminium or TEA ( (CH₃CH₂)₃Al ) is a volatile organometallic compound which is used in various chemical processing and as an ignitor for jet and rocket engines. It is a colorless liquid with melting point -50 °C, boiling point 128-130 °C at 50 mm Hg, flash point at -18 °C, and a characteristic smell. It is corrosive, causes burns, and is highly destructive to respiratory tract. Its CAS number is [97-93-8] and its EINECS number is 202-619-3. Its risk and safety phrases are R14 R17 R34 S16 S42 S45.

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TEA is pyrophoric (can ignite on contact with air) and will ignite and/or decompose on contact with water, and with any other oxidizers. ^[1]

TEA is one of the few substances volatile enough to ignite on contact with cryogenic liquid oxygen, which makes it particularly desirable as a rocket engine ignitor. It also can be used as a rocket fuel, but has not been for any production vehicle. ^[2]

Thickened pyrophoric agent (TPA)

Triethylaluminium thickened with polyisobutylene is used as an incendiary weapon, as a pyrophoric alternative to napalm, e.g. in the M74 rockets for the M202A1 launchers. [1] In this application it is known as TPA, for thickened pyrotechnic agent or thickened pyrophoric agent.

See also

• Triethylborane, used as an ignitor in the Pratt & Whitney J58 turbojet/ramjet engines.
• Trimethylaluminium

References

1. ^ TEA Material Safety Data Sheet, accessed March 27, 2007
2. ^ Clark, John D., Ignition! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants, Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ, 1972